Match-holder



P. LEO.

MATCHHOLDER.

APPLICATION nun mms, 1915.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

3 mm fa ai 6 0,

3&1

PAUL LEO, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

MATCH-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters I atent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

Application filed January 5, 1915. Serial No. 645.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PAUL Lno, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Elizabeth, New Jersey, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Match-Holders, of

which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to match holders of that type designed tobe carried in the pocket and consists in the combinations andarrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly set forthin the accompanying claims.

The pocket matches now used are mainly of the safety paper kind whereina dozen or more are semi-detached and formed as a strip that is securedwithin a simple folder, and a match scratching surface is formed at oneedge of the folder, and, as far as I am aware, this scratching surfaceis usually located on the opening side of the folder i. 6. immediatelybeneath the exposed row of match heads. Matches of this kind arepromiscuously given away daily by tobacco merchants, and by others as amedium of advertising. The general use of these matches is frequentlyattended by accidents, resulting in more or less severe casualties, andit is not uncommon that serious conflagrations are directly caused bythem, and all of which is directly due to the fact that sparks from thestriking match accidentally ignite the row of matches just near thescratching surface as above stated. And it is a fact that many consumersrefuse to accept these matches for the reasons stated. This danger isrecognized and endeavored to be overcome by placing conspicuous noticesupon the packages or folders by the manufacturers warning the person toclose the folder before striking the match, but as with all othernotices of this purport little or no attention has been paid to it andaccidents such as the aforementioned have not appreciably decreased.

The present invention has for its purpose to provide a match holder ofthe type in question having all its desirable features andavoiding thedisadvantages stated to wit by so locating the match scratching surfaceon the folder or container that a guard or wall is interposed betweenthe striking match and the row of unused matches. And

it is further contemplated to provide a separate or independentreceptacle to receive a folder or strip of these matches as nowdistributed, and wherein one side or Wall thereof constitutes the guard.

The invention is shown by way of. illustration in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a match holder inan open position and with a package of matches therein. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the holder showing the match scratching surfaceexposed for use. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view ofthe holder in the closed position. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective viewof the box portion of the holder.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 indicates a match holderpreferably made of a light sheet metal and comprising a box portion 2and a cover portion 3. The box portion is. stamped from a single blankand bent into the shape shown and comprises a bottom portion 4 turned upside and end portions 5 and 6 and a pocket portion 7. The pocket portionis formed on one end of the box and is provided for the purpose ofretaining a strip of the ordinary safety matches 8, said stripcomprising the usual folded portion to which the several matches aresecured, and a Wall for inclosing the strip at the sides and headsthereof. By means of an elongated aperture 9 formed in the face of thepocket, the match scratching surface 10, provided on the base portion ofthe strip of matches, may be exposed for use. The cover 3, which isslidably mounted on the box is also stamped from a single blank of metaland comprises a top portion 12 and the side. or guide portions 13 whichembrace the sides of the box. The cover is arranged to slide in onedirection to open the box to expose the matches for removal and to slidein the opposite direction to close the box and to expose the matchscratching surface for use. To limit the sliding movement of the coverwhen the box is opened the cover is provided at the corners of one endthereof with inturned portions 14, forming stops, which engage with oneside of an upturned lip 15 formed on the box at the inner end Of thepocket,

of the cover when moved in the opposite direction to expose the matchscratching surface, the cover is further provided on its opposite endwith an inturned portion 16, forming a stop, which also engages with theupturned lip 15.

By the arrangement of the stops for 11m iting the sliding movement ofthe cover it is obvious that the box or bOXlIlg may be opened for aconsiderable portion of its length so that a match may be convenientlytorn from the strip and that the box must be closed before the matchscratching surface is exposed to permit the match to be ignited, thusthe cover constitutes a safety guard for preventing sparks from thestriking match from" accidentally igniting the strip of matches locatedWithin the box.

To prevent the relative movement of the cover and box, until operated bya user, it will be observed'that both the box and cover are provided, atone side thereof, with struck-in portions forming detents 17 and 18which engage with each other and normally hold the cover in its closed.position.

To provide a means for permitting the convenient removal from the box ofthat portion of the match folder that remains after all of the matcheshave been torn there-' from, the back of the box is provided with anopening 20 through which the end of a finger may be inserted forassisting in removing the remains of the folder from the box.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that the invention provides asubstantially safety match holder whereby the liability of the matchesbecoming ignited from a striking match is substantially eliminated.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details ofconstruction and arrangements of parts without departing from the spiritof my invention and therefore I do not wish to be limited to suchfeatures except as may be required by the claims.

I claim 1. In a pocket match holder the combination of a box adapted tohold a strip of matches having a match scratching surface; and a coveron said box slidable in one direction to expose the matches for removal,and slidable in the opposite direction to expose the match scratchingsurface, and said cover constituting a guard for the purpose set forth.

2. In a pocket match holder the combination of a box adapted to hold astrip of matches having a match scratching surface; and a cover on saidbox slidable in one direction to expose the matches for removal,

and slidable in the opposite direction to expose the match scratchingsurface, and stops limiting the sliding movements of the cover 'on saidbox.

3. In a pocket match holder the combination of a box adapted to hold astrip of matches having a match scratching surface; and a cover on saidbox slidable in one direction to expose the matches for removal, andslidable in the opposite direction to expose the match scratchingsurface, stops limiting the sliding movements of the cover on said box,and detents for normally holding said cover and box against relativemovement.

4. In a pocket match holder the combination of a box adapted to hold a.strip of matches having a match scratching surface, and a cover on saidbox slidable in one direction to expose the matches for removal, andslidable in the opposite direction to expose the match scratchinsurface, said cover provided with inturned portions forming stops forlimiting the sliding movements of the cover on the box, and havingstruck-in portions forming detents for normally holding said cover andbox against relative movement.

5. In a match holder the combination of a box having a pocket forretaining a strip of matches, and said pocket having an aperturetherein; a strip of matches in said box fitting in the pocket, andhaving a scratching surface exposed through said aperture; a cover onsaid box, slidable in one direction to expose the matches for removal,and slidable in the opposite direction to expose the scratching surface,and said cover constituting a guard, for the purpose set forth.

6. In a match holder the combination of a box having a pocket forretaining a strip of matches, and said pocket having an aperturetherein; a strip of matches in said box fitting in the pocket, andhaving a scratching surface exposed through said aperture; a cover onsaid box, slidable in one direction to expose the matches for removal,and slidable in the opposite direction to expose the

